A old community centre building could be removed after a council determined it was only utilised for five hours per year. According to Ashfield District Council, Brierley House in Sutton-in-Ashfield’s Carsic estate is no longer financially viable.
The council’s application to demolish the Brierley Road building and build two council bungalows will be heard by its own planning committee next week. It has been recommended for approval.
Residents have urged the council to consider reopening it instead. The community centre temporarily closed during the pandemic, and its use never recovered after the lockdown was lifted.
It was utilised for 568 hours in 2019/20 (26%) and only five hours in 2022/23 (0.2%). According to the authorities, Brierley House generated no income that year, and its annual maintenance expenditures surpassed £8,000.
It would also require an expenditure of roughly £37,000 over the following five years to keep it in good working order. However, there has been a community pushback against the plans, with approximately 30 complaints lodged to the council.
Councillor Cathy Mason, who represents the Labour Party, wrote: “To remove the only council bookable venue purposely built for this community to meet to reduce social isolation, loneliness and have a chance at reducing anti-social behaviour would only increase the deprivation levels, definitely having a negative impact on the character of the area.”
Another homeowner stated that it gave “irreplaceable value” to the neighbourhood by hosting educational workshops, cultural events, children’s art classes, and social gatherings for seniors. We have contacted Ashfield District Council for comment.
At a meeting last year, when the council first presented the plans, Councillor John Wilmott (Ashfield Ind) praised the application as “a no-brainer”. He stated: “I completely agree that if the centres are not being used for their intended function, they should be used for something useful.
“What’s better than the council and inexpensive housing? We have an astounding number of folks on our waiting list.
The council also plans to destroy another underutilised community hall on Mill Lane in Huthwaite and replace it with two semi-detached dwellings. The total cost would be £743,000, with Homes England anticipated to contribute some of the funds.
The Brierley House proposal will be heard by the Ashfield District Council planning committee on Wednesday, April 17.
